‘Whoever comes to power development spree has to continue’

In her opening remarks during pre-polls talks with 25 political parties, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasised on maintaining development spree to make Bangladesh a developed nation.“Whichever party comes to power, it should keep up development spree to build Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country,” she said during the dialogue at Ganabhaban on Wednesday.Highlighting her administration’s achievement in different areas, Hasina said Bangladesh has achieved a GDP growth of 7.86 percent and contained inflation to 5.4 percent, reports BSS.“We’ve been able to bring down poverty rate to 21 percent from 41 percent and due to these successes, Bangladesh is now a role model of development in the world,” she said.“This development has been possible as a continuation of the government is maintained,” she added.Hasina said her government had declared the Charter for Change before the 2008 general elections. “We’ve been able to implement the charter by making massive socioeconomic development in the country over the last 10 years,” she said.The prime minister said Bangladesh has graduated to a developing country from a least developed due to various steps of her government.Bangladesh became a least developed country within three and a half years of the country’s independence due to farsighted leadership of Bangabandhu, she said.“The country would have been turned into a developing country within 10 years of independence, had Bangabandhu been alive.” The premier said her government resolved land boundary dispute with India as well as maritime boundary problem with India and Myanmar peacefully and maintaining good relations with them.Noting her government’s Digital Bangladesh programme, she said the country conquered space by launching Bangabandhu-1 satellite into the orbit.Hasina referred to the brutal repression and torture on the Awami League leaders and activists after the 2001 polls.“The BNP-Jamaat nexus unleashed terrorism in the country and inflicted torture on the AL leaders and workers from 2001-2005 in the way the Pakistani occupation forces did in 1971,” she said.The talks over the next elections between the 14-party and the 25 parties kicked off around 7:30 pm at the PM’s official residence the Ganabhaban.The leaders of the 25 parties including National Democratic Alliance President Barrister Nazmul Huda greeted the prime minister when she entered the meeting room.

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